Gabon has announced the suspension of social media platforms, citing the “spread of false information,” “cyberbullying,” and the “unauthorised disclosure of personal data.”
Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication (HAC), said online content has fuelled conflict and deepened divisions in the country.
“These actions are likely, in the case of Gabon, to generate social conflict, destabilise the institutions of the Republic, and seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress, and achievements,” Mendome said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
He noted that the suspension would last “until further notice” but did not specify which platforms would be affected.
WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok are popular in the French-speaking Central African country. Digital blackouts are frequently used in Gabon to control information.
The latest suspension comes as the Gabonese government faces growing protests over the high cost of living. In December, school teachers began striking over pay and working conditions, with protests over similar grievances spreading to other public sectors, including health and education.
Brice Nguema, former Gabon junta leader, won the presidential election last April, two years after his coup ended more than five decades of Bongo family rule. He pledged to reform Gabon and allowed foreign and independent media to film the ballot count.
This is not the first instance of social media restrictions in Africa. In 2021, Nigeria suspended Twitter after the platform removed a post by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, blocking nationwide access for several months until January 2022.
